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With the evolving landscape of COVID-19, there's fresh guidance from the land down under. The Australian Government has swiftly acted upon the latest advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), leading to vital updates on the 2023 COVID-19 vaccine regimen for Australians.
Are you 75 or above? It's time for another shot! If it's been six months since you received your last dose, you're now eligible for an added layer of protection. This decision has been grounded in the evidence that individuals in this age bracket remain at heightened risk for severe complications from the virus.
Minister Butler highlights the essence of this update, “The latest advice from our vaccination experts is that, if you’re aged 75 or older and it’s been at least six months since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose, it’s time to top up your protections with an additional dose.”
Not 75 yet, but wondering about your vaccination path? The government also suggests that Australians between the ages of 65 to 74, and even those between 18 to 64 with severe immune-compromises, think about getting an extra dose. However, it's crucial to make this decision hand-in-hand with your trusted healthcare provider.
Minister Butler continues, “And if you’re aged 65 to 74, or 18 to 64 and are severely immunocompromised, you should also consider the additional dose in consultations with your healthcare provider."
COVID-19's primary threat is its potential to cause severe illness and death, particularly in older adults and those with significant risk factors. As the battle against the virus continues, the main goal of the vaccination drive remains to minimise these severe outcomes.
On the brighter side, Australia's younger population without underlying health conditions seems to be holding up well, thanks to previous vaccination drives and natural immunity from past infections. Hence, there's no current recommendation for them to receive additional doses.
Did you miss out on the 2023 booster earlier this year? Good news! You can still step forward and get that booster shot. As Minister Butler aptly puts it, “For other people who were advised to get a 2023 booster but haven’t had one, it’s not too late to come forward and get one."
Concluding on a note of vigilance, he reminds us, “COVID-19 is still with us, so I encourage people to keep following the vaccination advice of the experts on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.”
Australia continues its proactive stance, with ATAGI dedicatedly reviewing emerging evidence on the vaccines' duration of protection and the virus's evolving trends. Stay tuned, stay safe, and stay vaccinated, mates!